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Seeking Advice on NOS DAC

Looking to purchase an NOS DAC, budget is $1500.
Currently available for sale are:

- Metrum Acoustics Hex digital converter  (used)
- Metrum Acoustics Amethyst DAC       (new)
- Acoustic Plan Digimaster Tube DAC     (used)
This is a German-built NOS, 24-bit R-2R resistor ladder network, PCM1704U-K converter with 4 tube EC 86 triode outputs.
- HOLO Audio Spring DAC – LEVEL 2    (new, but over my budget of $1500)

My primary listening is via the PS Audio PWT, while music files on my Mac are steadily increasing. I’m thinking NOS due to my large collection of Redbook CD's.

So, any experience or comments on which way to proceed is appreciated.

lowrider57
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57 OP
5,418 posts
 
Thanks guys, both DAC's look interesting. And @whart  , the Border Patrol does "check the right boxes."

@jond ... Enjoy the Music gave the DAC2.1 Signature a  phenomenal review. It looks like everything I could ask for in a DAC.
My only issue is the review is from 2005. So I'll ask you, what type of questions should I ask the seller/dealer?
Condition of caps and the tube circuits come to mind. Also, there is no USB input.

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57 OP
5,418 posts
 
Oh, wait a minute. I just saw a pic of the DAC2.1 and it only has balanced-outputs. My system is SE tubes and I don't know if I want to use XLR adapters.

lordcloud
155 posts
 
Don’t know if you’ve heard of or thought of MHDT Labs, but I have their Balanced Pagoda, and it sounds amazing. Particularly with good tubes.

I too and a big fan of the NOS sound, after having had a Scott Nixon DAC for a long while.

I highly recommend the Pagoda. 
jond's avatar
jond
6,057 posts
 
@lowrider57 AN dacs of that vintage don’t have USB inputs, mine doesn’t I use coax. You could of course get a usb/spdif converter. As far as questions I wouldn’t stress too much about caps my DAC is Circa 1995 and still going strong. It’s a pretty low stress environment in terms of the output stage. perhaps ask for some interior pics? I don’t think there’s much to worry about AN has fantastic interior build quality.
mitch2
4,327 posts
 
Stretch your budget just a little for a used Pavane. You can later upgrade if you feel the need.  The base model is much better than the Hex and their Level 3 (run through a very good preamp) beat their highly rated Adagio head-to-head, for my tastes, in my system - although the Adagio was very good and other listeners may have called it differently.
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